On Halloween the spiritual adviser of a neo-traditionalist sect in Georgia invited his followers to join him in a book burning (the group’s website is here). In addition to burning recording of “Satan’s Music” (country, Jazz, Gospel, etc.) the group took special pride in burning the holy books of adherents of another religion, books considered holy, or the Word of God by those who read them.

You may recall that during the abuses at Abu Ghraib there were reports of copies of the Qur’an being defaced. The outrage led to several attacks on innocent people. Police in Georgia, however, are not expecting any retaliation. The people whose holy books are being burned are followers of an ancient faith whose founder taught nonviolence. He taught them to bless those who persecute them, to turn the other cheek, and to pray for those who insult them.